BED IN SUMMERBy /

Robert Louis Robert Louis StevensonStevenson

Many of us can remember back to our younger days when we felt just the same way, lying on our beds, staring at the ceiling, listening to the world still bright and alive outside, wishing our parents would relent just this once and let us out to play rather than confining us to our bedrooms.

This poem has some interesting things about England to tell those who have never been there. In winter, around the Christmas time, it’s dark till 8 am. In summer it’s light till 9 pm.

The main idea of the poem is that the weather in England

causes some problems to children who have to follow certain system in their lives.

The sun rises late in winter so they find themselves get up very early when it is still dark.

The sun sets late in summer so they find themselves sleep very early when it is still light.

The poet, as achild, wants to tell us that he can't enjoy the beauty of nature because of weather conditions in England. He cann’t fully enjoy the light of the sun and the day as he goes to bed before the sunset.

He finds it unfair to get up too early and sleep too early as well. Children complain of obeying orders of grown- ups and call for freedom.

The first stanza

In winter I get up at night

And dress by yellow candle light,In summer, quite the other way,

I have to go to bed by day. By: during, no later than …

Paraphrase The poet, as a child, is unhappy

because he gets up very early before sunrise in winter as the sun rises very late. He also goes to bed very early in summer before sunset as the sun sets very late.

The second stanza

I have to go to bed and seeThe birds still hopping on the tree.

Or hear the grown-up people's feet

Still going past me in the street. Past (prep.): passed by Hopping: jumping

The poet envies birds and grown-ups because they are free. He goes to bed early, but birds jump on the trees happily and the grown- up people go around in the streets as he can hear their footsteps very clearly.

Paraphrase

The third stanza

And does it not seem hard to you, To have to go to bed by day.

And I should like so much to play,When all the sky is clear and blue. Should: supposed to, expected to as a child

Paraphrase

He asks us a question that shows he is sad and it is hard for him to go to bed while the sky is still clear and blue. He is supposed to play and enjoy the beauty of nature instead of going to bed while it is still day time.

In your Class NBs

In winter I get up at nightAnd dress by yellow candle-light.In summer, quite the other way,I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and seeThe birds still hopping on the tree,Or hear the grown-up people's feetStill going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,When all the sky is clear and blue,And I should like so much to play,To have to go to bed by day?

In winter I get up at night

And dress by yellow candle-light.

In summer, quite the other way,

I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see

The birds still hopping on the tree,

Or hear the grown-up people's feet

Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,

When all the sky is clear and blue,

And I should like so much to play,

To have to go to bed by day?

In your

class NBs

Commentary: - The poem consists of three stanzas that

express one main theme (idea). - The rhyming scheme is …

- - The poet's words are simple and are chosen to suit a child.

Poetry

Recital

Thank you!!